All posts tagged: Taking Stock

Taking Stock October 2020

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I haven’t written for a while, so I thought it might be a good opportunity to ‘take stock’. This is a super fun quick exercise which was dreamt up by the wonderful Pip at Meet Me At Mikes. It is a nice way to record what you are up to and lovely to look back on. Some of the answers I do quickly and with few words and some I have to come back to. If you fancy a go, I have a blank list at the end of the post. Making : Books, I have just finished a very comprehensive and very satisfying online class called ‘Booklove’ with Rachel Hazell who is The Travelling Bookbinder. Cooking : Dahl for dinner tomorrow. I have soaked the beans and lentils and I am ready to get cooking! Drinking : Pumpkin coffee made with Trader Joes ground coffee with frothy milk. I find that I often love all things pumpkin spice flavoured about now and then I soon lose interest, so I shall see how I feel …

Taking Stock on my Birthday November 2018

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A stock take on my birthday, my 49th year, last one before I make half a century.  Bloody hell, that makes me sound like an ancient relic!  Ha ha, good job I don’t feel like one! Credit to Pip at Meet me at Mikes for the Taking Stock concept, thanks Pip. Here is what I am up to tonight and today. Making : Christmas cake Cooking : Nothing, it’s my birthday! Drinking : Gin and tonic Reading: ‘Unsheltered’ by Barbara Kingsolver Wanting: More reading time Looking: At the light disappear as the sun goes down Playing: The ‘La La Land’ soundtrack, I can’t help myself! Deciding: Which ramen to order for dinner Wishing: I could visit all of my family for my birthday and eat cake with them Enjoying: Wearing scarves, I like winter clothes Waiting: To go the the gym, yes, on my birthday I still go to class Liking: Trying new art supplies Wondering: If I will get used to the massive sumi brushes I just got Loving: Learning all the new things …

Taking Stock August 2018

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Time for another Stock Take as the last one was in May this year.  I credit Pip at Meet me at Mikes blog for the original idea, I like to do it a few times each year to see what is going on. I always have the goal to whiz through the ‘prompt’ words and write down quickly whatever comes to me, but usually this post takes most of the day as I leave it to do laundry or make dinner then come back to finish it! If you fancy a stock take, I have a blank list at the end of mine. Making : Plans for my next art journal which I think will consist of vintage flash cards! Cooking : Burgers for dinner, a combination of beef, mushroom and veggie for our family! Drinking : Fizzy grapefruit flavored water. Reading: The Captives by Debra Jo Immergut, I have only just started it but it is good so far. Wanting: The weather to cool down, yes we are in the midst of the mid-west …

Taking Stock May 2018

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Each time I write a ‘Taking Stock’ post I have to look back on a previous one to get the list and make sure I am consistent with the title.  While I am visiting the older post I like to read what I was up to just a few months ago! One of the many reasons I like to write these fun posts. The idea for Taking Stock came from Pip of Meet Me at Mikes fame and I am grateful to her for it. To take stock, just copy the list at the end of my list and fill it in to make it your own stock take.  Do it again in a couple of months and revisit them to see what you were up to! Making : sketchbooks using old book covers. Cooking : I am not sure what to cook for dinner but I made a very nice apple cake at the weekend. Drinking : Frothy coffee. Reading: The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. Wanting: Spring, it seems that here in the mid …

Taking Stock January 2018

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First stock take of the year.  Inspired by the lovely Pip at Meet me at Mikes blog, if you want to take your own stock, there is a blank list of starting words at the end of this post. These posts are a fun way to see what is going on and they are great to look back on and see what you were up to at the time. Here goes – Making :  Mandalas in my sketchbook. Cooking : Chicken tikka masala for dinner. Drinking : Nothing, but now I want a cup of tea. Reading: Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin and Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich. Wanting: A cup of tea, hold on while I put the kettle on….. Looking: At my kids doing homework as I write this. Playing: With my new/old typewriter now it has a shiny new ribbon. Deciding: What to wear for work. Wishing: My clothes ironed themselves! Enjoying: My part time job at the local library. Waiting: For the dishwasher to finish. Liking: …

Taking Stock September 2017

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Time for a stock take!  I have attached a blank list at the end for you, respond to each word in as many or few words as you like. Thanks to Meet Me At Mikes blog for starting ‘Taking Stock’. Here’s my latest! Making : Sketchbooks and more sketchbooks! Cooking : Waffles, egg and bacon for lunch. Drinking : Coffee with home made pumpkin spice syrup even though it is a thousand degrees outside. Reading: The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall Wanting: To read my massive magazine pile. Looking: At a cloudy sky. Playing: BBC Radio 2 – Steve Wright in the Afternoon. Deciding: What to make for Friday’s dinner. I am still not the best at working all day and getting dinner organized and made! Wishing: I could get the shopping list just right for good dinners and snacks! Enjoying: The month long class on Creative Bug hosted by Faith Hale – Daily Book Art Challenge. Waiting: For the kettle to boil to make a cup of tea. Liking: The home made rice krispie …

Taking Stock June 2017

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  A stock take at the end of June, inspired by the wonderful blog that is Meet Me At Mikes. Making : A sketchbook with pages of watercolor paper for a class I am starting in July, Cooking : Egg fried rice for dinner. Drinking : A hot cup of Typhoo tea! Reading: ‘Project Calm’ magazine. Wanting: All the paints in all the colours! Looking: At the bird feeder out the window. Playing: The radio. Deciding: What to do for my ‘100 day project’ tomorrow – 100 Days of Creative Ideas. Wishing: I had chosen an art based ‘100 day project’.  Less than 20 days to go, I am not giving up now! Enjoying: Digging around in the woods with my kid! Waiting: For tomorrow to call my Mum and Dad who arrived home from their holidays. Liking: Cool evenings. Wondering: If I can fill an sketchbook which would be good enough for the Brooklyn Art Library‘s sketchbook collection. Loving: Making sketchbooks using old book covers. Pondering: Should I buy wine? Considering: Buying wine? Buying: …

Taking Stock March 2017

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It is a few months since I did a ‘Taking Stock’ post, so here is the first one for 2017. Inspired by Pip Lincolne of Meet Me at Mikes fame, let’s see where we are and what we are making. I will include a blank list for you to copy at the end, so you can have a stock take too! Making : Prints from old 127 film negatives. Cooking : Roast cauliflower curry for dinner. Drinking : Frothy coffee. Reading: One in a Million Boy by Monica Wood. Wanting: These boots so badly! Looking: For ideas to join in with The 100 Day Project which starts in April. Playing: Around with colours in my art journals is the best therapy ever! Deciding: Which song lyrics or poem to use for today’s sketch for my oracle deck which I am working on along with @otmoraclecards over on Instagram. Wishing: The weather would make up it’s mind, we have had almost every season in the space of a couple of weeks! Enjoying: The unseasonably warm weather if …

Taking Stock December 2016

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The final stock take of the year, as always, inspired by the wonderful Pip at Meet Me at Mikes.  Making : Journals with gorgeous paper. Cooking : Pizza. Drinking : Egg nog frothy coffee. Reading: I am about to start ‘The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles‘ by Katherine Pancol Wanting: To stop running about getting Christmas stuff ready.  Nearly done! Looking: Through the ‘Flow Book for Paper Lovers‘. Playing: Christmas songs, I like the ‘This is Christmas’ album by Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler the best. Deciding: Whether to order dinner or make it! Wishing: I didn’t have to go food shopping for Christmas, I don’t have to get much, but I wish it would just arrive in my fridge! Enjoying: Planning Christmas and what we will make and eat. Waiting: For school to finish tomorrow.  It seems so late that the kids finish school on the 22nd December. Liking: Christmas/holiday art journaling, with Get Messy Art Journal and Creative Bug. Wondering: Whether I can squeeze in some ‘art’ time today, I am sure I …

Taking Stock September 2016

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I like to do a stock take every so often, see what is going on, how it is all going.  If you fancy  having a stock take too, I have added a blank list at the end of this post.  Thanks to Pip at Meet Me At Mikes for this Taking Stock list. Here goes, digital biro at the ready…. Making : I am still crocheting my blanket, it may be done by 2020! Cooking : Burgers and coleslaw for dinner. Drinking : Lots of tea. Reading: I have just started The Girl Who Slept with God by Val Brelinski and I am liking it so far.  My library website recommends books based on what else you have searched and this came up when I ordered The Girls by Emma Cline and there is a very long line for it, so I thought I would give The Girl Who Slept with God a go and I am pleased I did. Hurrah for libraries! Wanting: The weather to cool down, I am done with hot and humid. …